French Air Force pilots prepare a Dassault Rafale multirole combat aircraft for take-off during a stop over at Paya Lebar Airbase in Singapore on June 28, 2023, as part of “Pegase 23“ training operation. From June 25 to August 1, the French Air and Space Force conducts “Pegase 2023“ -the second mission in the last 9 months- which will consist of a succession of large-scale activities in the Indo-Pacific. (AFP/Roslan Rahman)
On January 27, Indonesia’s Defence Ministry has confirmed that the Indonesian Air Force has begun operating three Rafale fighter jets delivered from France, marking the first phase of a deal to strengthen the country’s air defence. Defence Ministry spokesman Brigadier General Rico Sirait said the aircraft, now stationed at Roesmin Nurjadin Air Base in Pekanbaru, have completed all handover procedures and are fully operational after arriving in mid-January 2026.
The jets are the first of 42 Rafales ordered from Dassault Aviation under a phased procurement programme. The defence ministry affirmed that the new aircraft would enhance Indonesia’s ability to secure its airspace, while a formal reception ceremony, expected to be attended by President Prabowo Subianto, will be scheduled at a later date.
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